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LEFT FINLAND 135 FINLAND, GULF OF scription and is formed in accordance with a law enacted in February, 1919. It consists of three divisions and one inde- pendent brigade. Subordinate to the army command are also heavy artil- lery, flying, automobile, and intelligence troops. The coastal defense consists chiefly of three artillery coast regiments. There is practically no fleet. In addition to the regular army there is an organi- zation of Civic Safety Corps, in which about 100,000 men are enlisted. The regular army includes about 36,600 men and the volunteer about 105,000 men. Government. — On Dec. 6, 1917, Fin- land was proclaimed an independent and sovereign state by the House of Repre- sentatives. It was recognized by most of the leading powers. The National Par- liament consists of one chamber of 200 members, chosen by direct and propor- tional election, in which all who are en- titled to vote have an equal vote. The suffrage is possessed by all Finnish men and women who have reached their twenty-fourth year. Every citizen en- titled to vote is eligible to the House of Representatives. The Diet exists for three years, unless sooner dissolved. The president is elected for six years by the vote of the citizens. History. — The origin of the Finns is to a large extent unknown. They are thought to have been driven northward from the Volga at the beginning of the 8th century. In the 12th century began the long struggle with the Swedes which lasted over 100 years and ended in the subjection of the Finnish people to Swedish sovereignty. Finland remained for over 500 years as a part of Sweden. The people enjoyed a practical self-gov- ernment and developed an intelligent civilization. Finland was frequently a battle ground in the war between Russia and Sweden. As the Finnish frontier is only 33 miles from Petrograd. Russia de- sired to possess the country in order to complete its defenses. This wish was realized in 1809, when Sweden ceded to Russia the Grand Duchy with the Aland Islands. Finland was guaranteed the preservation of its laws, constitution, and religion. This pledge was kept until 1897, when the Russian Government began a series of systematic attacks cul- minating in 1899 in an edict which re- moved from the Finnish Diet all matters afi'ecting the Grand Duchy, in common with Russia proper. An attempt to Rus- sianize the country was carried on in the following years with great severity. The people resisted, and in 1905 revolution- ary agitation in Russia was supported in Finland. The Czar granted the Diet its old privileges and this was followed by a period of quiet. Women were given the suffrage and other radical changes in the government were made. The government of Russia, however, continued hostile to the self-rule of Finland, and in 1910 a law was passed stipulating that the Rus- sian Duma and the Imperial Council had sole power in matters affecting Russia and Finland together. This practically deprived Finland of home rule. On July 20, 1917, the Diet declared the independ- ence of the country. The Russian Pro- visional Government in August of the same year ordered the dissolution of the Diet and the summoning of a new one to meet on November 1. Shortly after the meeting of the Diet the Kerensky government fell and on Dec. 9, 1917, the country was proclaimed an independent republic. There followed a period of civil war between the Red Guards (Bol- sheviki) and the White Guards (pro- Germans). The Finnish authorities seized the Red Guards and executed many of them. Distui'bances continued until the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty between Germany and the Bol- shevik Government. Four days later Germany signed a treaty with Finland and German troops were sent into Fin- land. There was a strong attempt to establish a monarchy, but this was op- posed by the people. The country re- mained under the practical domination of Germany during 1918. General Man- nerheim, the organizer of the Finnish White Guard became Regent in Decem- ber of that year. He used severe meas- ures in ridding the counti'y of Bolshe- vists and conditions gradually turned to a liberal policy. Professor Staahlberg was elected president of the republic, defeating General Mannerheim on July 5, 1919. A constitution was formulated and the republic was established on a firm basis. In 1920 and 1921 a contro- versy was carried on between Sweden and Finland as to the disposition of the Aland Islands. A plebiscite was held according to the conditions set down by the Peace Conference and it was main- tained by Sweden that this indicated an overwhelming majority in favor of Swe- dish sovereignty. Finland declared, how- ever, that the islands had l>een adminis- tered as a part of the Finnish province for more than a century and that the majority of them lay nearer the Finnish coast than to the Swedish coast. A commission was appointed by the Council of the League of Nations to make in- quiries and submit recommendations as a basis for peaceful settlement. FINLAND, GULF OF, one of the great arms of the Baltic Sea, extending E. and N. between lat. 58° 40' and 60°